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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina |
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HeadlinesThis week's Pigskin Pickin' results Price wants the best for Princeton growth Board candidate raises question about bids Parking solution found for Bartholomew Drive Rosewood timber thief arrested Princeton's Veterans Day celebration planned Football: PHS tramples Gators in home win, 35-6 Football: Rosewood takes tough loss at Ayden-Grifton, 52-0 Golf: Southern Wayne outputts PHS, NJ Volleyball: L. Bulldogs take first in conference Volleyball: Eagles drop Panthers Track: PHS girls triumph at home track meet Tennis: Bailey leads RHS Photos Obituaries Gladys S. Davis, Tommy L. Vanier, Darrell Smith, Robert L. Holloman Movies The Seeker: The Dark is Rising Local Showtimes
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Price wants the best for Princeton growthBy Barry Merrill 10 October 2007 — Marshall Price, Princeton’s Planning Board Chairman, went before the town board last week to speak against a proposed change to allow double-wide mobile homes in other zones. Recently, a property owner had petitioned the town to change their zoning regulations so he could place a double-wide on land he had recently purchased, not knowing that land was not zoned to permit it. Mr. Price acknowledged to the board that the petitioner seems to be a nice guy, and the planning board would like to help him, but this was not the way to help him. He recommended that he ask for a zoning change. “We have plenty of land available for mobile homes under the 20/20 Vision Plan. If we grant his request, we would really be nullifying that plan,” he said. The town board went along with Mr. Price and the planning board.
When asked last week, Mr. Price said the town board had been very supportive of the planning board. “I don’t know of anything, except maybe sidewalks in the Bojangles development, that the board hasn’t backed us on.” He also says that in virtually every case he can remember, the planning board was able to work with every reasonable request to give people what they want. The need to plan for the future, along with concern for the future of the community, are areas where Mr. Price is passionate. Recently, Mr. Price was asked to serve on the Blue Ribbon Committee appointed by county commissioners, to look at growth issues and regulations. When asked about that experience, he was surprised by where the county was. “When I learned there was no comprehensive land use plan in the county, that was one of the things that shocked me.” He noted that when Princeton developed such a plan for the town in 2004, he realized how important that was, with the issues the town faced in the future. He also knows how important that will be to the county in the future. “Without something like this, what if someone wanted to put in a 500 lot subdivision on Richardson Bridge Road? Without water and sewer in place, it makes no sense.” He talked about the desire to preserve greenspace in some areas, but also said there are places where development makes sense. Mr. Price is a relatively new resident of Princeton, having moved here ten years ago. His roots go a little deeper, though. His father, Don Price, was pastor at Princeton Baptist Church since 1994; he retired from the church in 2001. Marshall also had a reputation for getting involved in the community. He grew up in Benson, where his father pastored prior to coming to Princeton. As an adult, Marshall continued to live in the area, and he got involved in civic affairs in Benson. People in Benson appreciated his contributions to life there. When he got married ten years ago, he and his wife, Leigh Ann, who is now the head of the county’s Board of Elections, decided to move to Princeton.
Eight years ago when Mark Johnson left the planning board, Town Commissioner Eddie Haddock asked Marshall to consider taking his spot. Mr. Haddock is a member of Princeton Baptist Church and had come to know Marshall through the church. When Mickey Smith retired as Planning Board Chairman four years ago, Marshall was asked to take that post. Not long after he stepped into that role, the town developed their comprehensive land use plan. “I learned a lot,” he says. “I think we have a good plan. Once the extra (to two) mile extra-territorial jurisdiction is in place, we can help more.” Mr. Price says that some in the proposed ETJ expansion worry about the change, but he maintains that the ETJ is more about protecting property owners from what their neighbors might do than any restrictions that people might see as not beneficial. Mr. Price, 46, has some flexibility in his schedule that helps him take time for the town when needed. He is a contractor as a sales representative for Performance Specialties, a fastener and shop supplies firm supplying body shops and car dealerships. He also helped put together a beautiful Prayer Garden at Princeton Baptist Church recently, which many inside and outside his church have commented on. It’s more proof of his concern for his community, though Mr. Price says that was just done for the glory of God, without seeking any recognition for himself. He also sees that Princeton might have some growth opportunities, perhaps some industry to help with the tax base. “I know how important Chicopee (now PGI) was to Benson. They are a good corporate neighbor. “Princeton has missed some opportunities in the past. I hope we can be ready for them in the future.”
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